The Miami Dolphins lost to the New England Patriots last weekend, dropping to 1-6 and reminding everyone this is a rebuilding year. They held a 13-3 halftime lead against their AFC East rivals, but couldn’t sustain the momentum in the second half and let New England storm back for a 24-19 win.
This year is about the growth and development of the team, not necessarily about the wins and losses – but wins sure feel much better than losses.
In Week 9, the Dolphins host the Detroit Lions, a 5-2 team that
is looking to return to the playoffs in 2026 after missing out last year. A physical team that gets after their opponents each and every week, Detroit serves as an example of the success a philosophy change and roster rebuild can bring.
The Lions are five years ahead of Miami on the rebuild path. The FanDuel Sportsbook oddsmakers, expect Detroit to use that advantage to come away with the win on Sunday. The Lions are a 6.5-point favorite for the game.
Dolphins fan confidence
Despite the losses mounting, Dolphins fans seem to see the course laid out by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. Both in their first year in the roles, they have been deliberate in how they reset the Dolphins’ salary cap, roster, and play style. They have the players believing in them, and the fans seem to also trust them.
Each week, we ask you to weigh in on how you are feeling about the direction of the Dolphins. We then track the results of our SB Nation Reacts surveys to see how the fan base is feeling about the team, and how it changes over the course of the season. This year, the fans have consistently demonstrated their trust for the new management team and in the direction of the franchise.
That doesn’t mean the losses don’t affect fans’ feelings. Heading into last week, 97 percent of fans thought Miami was headed in the right direction, nearing an all-time high after the team’s win over the New York Jets. After the loss to the New England Patriots in Week 8, and as they prepare to face the Detroit Lions in Week 9, fan confidence dropped somewhat, but support for the team remains overwhelming.
After 97 percent of respondents said they felt positive about the Dolphins’ direction in Week 8, that number slipped to 86 percent in Week 9.
How will this weekend’s game impact the results in Week 10?
Miami Dolphins 2026 Season Fan Confidence Results:
Preseason – 80%
Week 1 – 79%
Week 2 – 63%
Week 3 – 65%
Week 4 – 79%
Week 5 – 87%
Week 6 – 71%
Week 7 – 72%
Week 8 – 97%
Week 9 – 86%
Dolphins fans: Make your pick in the SB Nation app!
Take Reacts surveys, create Dolphins polls, and see how your answers compare with fellow Phinsider readers. Then discuss the results with other diehard Fins fans.
Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.
Do you agree with the Dolphins’ fan confidence poll results? Let us know in the comments.
